EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES SPRING 2022 JUDICAL PLACEMENTS
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EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
SPRING 2022
JUDICAL PLACEMENTS
Farmington Regional Probate Court (Farmington, CT)
Extern will be responsible for assisting court staff with daily case management and court activities,
including, but not limited to, attending hearings, court docket management, file maintenance, assisting
attorneys and the public, and conducting court-related research. We expect students to learn and
experience the basic statutory and procedural requirements for the various subject matters within the
Connecticut Probate Court’s jurisdiction as well as other basic real-world issues in Connecticut Probate
Practice. Ideal candidate will have taken some courses in any of the following areas: Trusts, Estates,
Family-Child-Juvenile, Mental Health, Real Estate, Taxation, State-Local Government law.
Hampden County Juvenile Court (Springfield, MA)
This externship allows students to observe courtroom procedure in issues dealing with juveniles,
such as care and protection and delinquency proceedings. Students not only have hands-on
experience by researching and writing memoranda, but also by observing the courtroom tactics of
lawyers as they present their cases to the Court.
Hampden County Probate and Family Court (Springfield, MA)
Externs will assist the Justices of the Hampden County Division of the Probate and Family Court. The
Probate and Family Court hears cases on subjects relating to all aspects of a person’s life, from birth
to death. Externs in the Probate and Family Court are exposed to a wide variety of family, probate, and
equity issues, including adoption, paternity, custody, divorce, guardianships, legal bioethics, will
contests, trust reformation, and petitions to partition real estate. The law in these areas is constantly
evolving and cases of first impression often confront the court, making an externship experience in the
Probate and Family Court is interesting and challenging. Externs conduct research, write legal
memoranda, draft findings of fact, conclusions of law, judgments, orders, and work directly with the
judge on the assignment. Judges will be encouraged to discuss cases with students and to provide them
with feedback. In addition, externs have the opportunity to observe hearings and trials, which expose
them to court procedure and evidentiary issues. By working with multiple judges, externs will gain a
broader understanding of the workings of the Probate and Family Court.
Judge Claudine T. Wyner, Hampden County Probate and Family Court (Springfield, MA)
Extern will assist Judge Claudine T. Wyner and Assistant Judicial Case Manager with various tasks –
reviewing Guardian Care Reports, attending hearings, preparing memorandums of law, assisting in
drafting findings and judgments, etc.
Hampden County Probate and Family Court handles a myriad of matters from divorce, custody,
never married parents, post-divorce modifications and contempts, guardianships of minors,
guardianships of incapacitated individuals, conservatorships, will contests, other equity complaints,
etc.
1Hampshire County Probate and Family Court (Northampton, MA)
A judicial externship offers a unique, exciting, and rewarding environment in which to begin a legal
career. The Probate and Family Court hears cases on subjects relating to all aspects of a person’s life,
from birth to death. Externs in the Probate and Family Court are exposed to a wide variety of family,
probate, and equity issues, including adoption, paternity, custody, divorce, guardianships, legal
bioethics, petitions to partition real estate, trust reformations, and will contests. Externs conduct
research, write legal memoranda, draft findings of fact, conclusions of law, judgments, and orders, and
work directly with the judge on the assignment. In addition, externs have the opportunity to observe
hearings and trials, which expose them to court procedure and evidentiary issues.
Massachusetts District Court, Springfield Division (Springfield, MA)
This externship enhances the student's legal background by exposing them to the daily workings of a
judge on the bench and to courtroom proceedings. Students also research and write memoranda on
different areas of the law, and may even interact with attorneys appearing before the Court.
Western Division Housing Court, Judge Robert Fields (Springfield, MA)
This externship exposes students to different areas of housing law and to general civil litigation
practice ranging from pro se proceedings to complex multi-party civil litigation. Cases handled by the
court include contract and tort claims, personal injury, housing discrimination, zoning appeals, and
equity practice, among other substantive areas. Students benefit by observing hearings and trials and
improving their research and writing skills by performing research assignments for the court and by
drafting findings, rules, and orders.
LAW PRACTICE PLACEMENTS
City of Springfield Law Department Legal Services Group (Springfield, MA)
The Extern will assist City Attorney in the following areas: legal issues as related to the Police
Department Body Worn Cameras, legal advice, counsel, and opinions, assist the Mayor on legislative
relations and issues, provide guidance to various departments on Open Meeting Law, and assist the
City Clerk’s Office with legal services related to public records as well as the Open Meeting Law.
Committee for Public Counsel Services - Children &Family Law Division (Springfield, MA) The
Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is a government agency providing
representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases, and administrative proceedings in
which there is a right to counsel. The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division provides zealous
and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination
of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance proceedings.
Committee for Public Council Services - Springfield District Court (Springfield, MA)
The District Court offices of the Public Defender Division provide legal representation and
advocacy to indigent clients. Extern students who are 3:03 certified will help with virtual
arraignments and bails in the Springfield District Court. To be 3:03 certified you must be a
senior student. Externs that are not eligible for 3:03 certification will assist with in-office
research and writing. Possible assignments include helping staff attorneys draft motions,
memorandum, or research a variety of issues.
2Committee for Public Counsel Services - Youth Advocacy Department (Springfield, MA)
The Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) ensures that every child from an indigent family in
Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation that incorporates a Youth Development
Approach, resulting in fair treatment in court. YAD works with each client to achieve both legal
and life success. Extern will assist staff in all phases of delinquency representation, including
arraignments, motions, trials and educational advocacy as well as social service advocacy.
Students must be eligible for 3:03 Certification.
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (Hartford, CT)
The Commission is Connecticut’s chief civil rights law enforcement agency. The extern will work
primarily in the Commission’s legal division, which is responsible for litigating claims of
employment, housing, and public accommodation discrimination. The legal division also
represents the agency in other matters at the trial and appellate levels.
The extern will be involved in preparing discrimination cases for litigation before human rights
referees, who function as administrative law judges, or in Connecticut trial courts. Assignments
may also include responding to individual legal questions that arise during the course of complaint
investigation or in judicial proceedings. Externship duties will typically include legal research and
writing, drafting pleadings and interrogatories, and preparing for witness interviews and settlement
negotiations. Students are encouraged to become admitted under the Connecticut law student rule
so they may more actively question witnesses or argue motions.
Connecticut Fair Housing Center (Hartford, CT)
The Connecticut Fair Housing Center, a non-profit organization that provides legal representation
to victims of housing discrimination and homeowners in danger of foreclosure, seeks legal externs
to work in its Hartford, CT office. The Center seeks legal externs with a strong commitment to
social justice and civil rights to assist in all stages of its fair housing enforcement practice.
Responsibilities will include researching legal issues relevant to claims before state and federal
agencies and courts; developing outreach and educational materials and conducting presentations
for community organizations; interviewing potential clients, evaluating claims and making
recommendations regarding suitability of cases for representation by the Center; drafting
complaints, attending hearings and settlement negotiations and assisting in preparation of
witnesses. Legal externs will also work on the Center’s Fair Lending Project directly assisting
clients and working with attorneys volunteering with the Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Panel.
Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (Hartford, CT)
Extern will have the opportunity to perform legal research, draft hearing decisions,
memorandum, and handle various issues regarding contract law including contract negotiation,
drafting, procurement, and data security/data share agreements. Various research regarding
multiple contract issues will include: drafting various provisions, copyright law, education law,
ADA, FERPA, and review of legislation. Extern will assist in legal review of background
checks for childcare workers including substantive work regarding reviewing background checks
and making recommendations for eligibility and participate in administrative hearings, various
committees/meetings as assigned. There will be opportunities for participation in OEC lead staff
development. Extern may also have the opportunity to work on enforcement cases. Extern will
gain overall experience in contract law, business law, criminal law, education law, data security
law.
3Hampden County Court Service Center (Springfield, MA)
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is dynamic, self-starting, and interested in
learning about access to justice issues in the court system. You will be part of a new program called
the Court Service Center, which seeks to provide comprehensive legal assistance for self-
represented litigants.
KC Law (Westfield, MA)
KC Law concentrates on civil litigation matters including medical malpractice, general torts,
housing court matters, consumer protection, and business law. A student will gain valuable and
practical knowledge in civil litigation by actually participating in drafting initial pleadings,
research, discovery, motions and trial preparations.
Massachusetts Fair Housing Center (Holyoke, MA)
Extern will have the opportunity to manage a caseload consisting of clients who are victims of
housing discrimination and predatory lending. The extern will interview clients, investigate
claims, and present cases at and participate in legal committee meetings. The extern will draft
demand letters, complaints, legal memos, and motions. There will also be opportunities to
conduct research in a number of areas of concern to this organization. The extern may also
accompany the attorney to legal or administrative proceedings or community trainings, as they
arise.
McLane & McLane, LLC
Extern will be provided with the opportunity to gain experience in Estate Planning which will
include developing estate plans for clients through office meetings, phone calls, correspondence,
research, and document drafting; working on routine to advanced estate and tax planning matters;
drafting correspondence, estate planning documents, Probate/Conservatorship/Guardianship
petitions, strategy recommendations, and compromise agreements; and assisting in client
representation at Probate/Conservatorship/Guardianship hearings. Extern will also gain
experience in real estate which will include reviewing/drafting of Purchase and Sale agreements
and other similar contracts/documents; reviewing title work; and assisting with the representation
of purchasers, sellers, and lenders in residential and commercial closings.
Office of Senator Eric P. Lesser (Boston, MA)
Externs will be involved with the type of work a Legislative Director might be tasked with
including policy, legal, press, and constituent work.
The site will work with extern to establish a mutually agreeable work schedule. Work will be
mainly remote with the opportunity to come to the State House to attend formal sessions, hearings,
etc.
Office of the Attorney General ( Springfield, MA)
Legal externs may be exposed to the following practice areas: consumer protection; municipal law;
civil rights; criminal; civil defensive litigation; and business and labor protection. Legal externs
assist attorneys with in-depth legal research and writing, including drafting motions and legal
memoranda, and preparing cases for trial. Legal externs will have the opportunity to participate,
either actively or as an observer, in depositions, court appearances (accompanied by a supervising
attorney), and in-house continuing legal education training. NOTE: Students chosen for this
externship may NOT work in law firms or legal departments or engage in legal research or writing
positions where the Commonwealth is an interested party during the course of their externship.
4Olin & Lippiello LLP (Northampton, MA)
The student would assist the attorney in providing legal representation and advocacy to indigent
clients who are charged with criminal offenses within the final jurisdiction of the District Court.
The clients are either charged with misdemeanors and/or felonies, see G.L. c.218, §26; St. 2005,
c.54, including some serious sexual offenses and occasionally handle initial proceedings under
G.L. c.123, §§12(e), 35.
United States Attorney’s Office (Springfield, MA)
Externs assist the AUSAs with research and preparation of legal documents in both civil and
criminal cases. The externs also have the opportunity to observe and discuss with the AUSAs
many aspects of the federal criminal justice process. Please note there is an early application
deadline date of October 3, 2021.
United States Attorney’s Office (Hartford, CT)
The Office of the Attorney General is an exciting and rewarding place to work. The Office is
dedicated to public service and with fourteen legal departments offers a diverse and broad range
of legal initiatives. The 14 departments include: Antitrust, Child Protection, Civil Rights/Torts,
Collections Child Support, Consumer Protection, Employment Rights, Environment, Finance,
Health Care Fraud, Health/Education, Public Safety/Special Revenue, Special Litigation,
Transportation, and Workers’ Comp/Labor. Please note there is an early application deadline
date of October 7, 2021.
Western New England University Center for Social Justice (Springfield, MA)
Externs will assist the Center director and staff with the full range of legal services provided to
clients. Typical student activities include screening new cases, performing interviews to spot legal
issues, and providing such other legal assistance on cases as may be necessary, including by
teaming up with a volunteer attorney to prepare a case for hearing, conducting legal research, and
connecting clients with local resources. Those licensed under the Student Practice Rule may also
make court/hearing appearances on behalf of clients as permitted by the Rule.
The extern will be heavily involved in the administration of the Consumer Debt Initiative program
virtually. This involves providing information to clients about the scope and availability of
services, client intake, client interviewing, document and discovery review, and negotiation with
opposing counsel.
Worcester District Attorney’s Office (Worcester, MA)
Extern will assist with the handling of pre-trial matters, motions, and trials within the District
Court. Extern will conduct legal research on pertinent legal issues and write memos on the
same. Student must be eligible for 3:03 Certification.
NOTE: Please view externship opportunities on Symplicity for complete application
requirements. Questions? Contact Marie Fletcher, Clinical Programs Administrator, at Tel.: 413-
782-1469 or email: mfletcher@law.wne.edu.
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